Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Sep 7: Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao and several other party leaders and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers were detained on Monday while attempting to hold a protest outside the state Assembly over pending fee reimbursement dues.
Police stopped Rao and his supporters as they marched towards the Assembly, demanding that the Congress government clear the dues. When police detained Rao and took him towards a police vehicle, BJP workers attempted to block the vehicle, leading to a scuffle.
Some protesters climbed onto the vehicle, causing minor damage, while a few sustained injuries during the confrontation. Police subsequently detained the protesters and shifted them to different police stations.
Rao later alleged that he had been arrested for the fourth time in 10 days for raising the issue of pending fee reimbursement dues.
“By arresting me for the fourth time in 10 days for demanding to clear pending fee reimbursement dues, the Congress government has exposed its true anti-student mindset,” Rao posted on X.
Protesters carrying BJP flags and placards raised slogans and attempted to proceed towards the Assembly in batches. Several protesters squatted on the road and were physically removed by police personnel.
Earlier, a group that managed to reach near the Assembly building was detained and taken to a police station.
BJYM had called for a ‘Chalo Assembly’ protest on the opening day of the monsoon session to demand clearance of the fee reimbursement dues. Police deployed heavy security along routes leading to the Assembly and around the premises.
The protest and traffic restrictions affected vehicular movement on several busy roads in central Hyderabad.
The BJP has alleged that the Congress government has failed to clear nearly Rs 15,000 crore in pending fee reimbursement dues, putting the future of around 40 lakh students at stake.
BJP disrupts Assembly proceedings
Meanwhile, BJP MLAs disrupted proceedings in the Assembly, demanding a debate on alleged arbitrary inclusion of private properties under Section 22A of the Registration Act, 1908.
Led by BJP floor leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy, the legislators demanded that their adjournment notice be taken up by suspending the scheduled business.
After Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar rejected the demand, BJP members entered the well of the House and raised slogans. The Speaker objected to the members carrying placards and directed security personnel to remove them.
The BJP legislators continued their protest, demanding a probe by a sitting judge into allegations of misuse of the Revenue and Registration machinery, extortion and arbitrary freezing of private properties under Section 22A.
Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu said the government had already decided to hold a short discussion on the matter and appealed to the BJP members to cooperate with the listed business.
As the protest continued, the Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes.